Red Cross chapter seeks new leader

COUNCIL BLUFFS — The search is on for a new executive director for the Loess Hills Chapter of the American Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St. on the Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus.

Rob Waterhouse, who held that position for about 18 months, left this fall, said Frank Pechacek Jr., president of the chapter's board of directors.

A regional administrator at the agency's Heartland Chapter in Omaha actually handles employee hiring and firing for the Loess Hills Chapter, he said.

“It's my understanding that he left to pursue other opportunities,” Pechacek said. “The chapter itself is doing well.”

The interim director will be former employee Jackie Nelson, he said.

Nelson, who was program director of Volunteer Council Bluffs for about a year and a half, served as interim director from the time previous executive director Deborah Neary left in October 2007 until Waterhouse came in January 2008.

Pechacek said he believes the chapter will be in good hands but added that Nelson will not be staying beyond the interim period.

She and her husband plan to do mission work outside the area, he said.

“They have these plans to do missionary work — and they did that — and it just happened that, when we needed someone, she called and said, ‘Do you have anything at the Red Cross I could do for a few months?'”